St. Louis Blues (10-8-1) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (6-12-0)
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks 11/26/23 – The St. Louis Blues take on the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday at the United Center. The Blues are looking to continue their recent success against Chicago, boasting a 5-1 record over their last 6 matchups. However, St. Louis has struggled on the road this season at 4-9. This important Central Division clash features a Blues offense led by Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich against a Blackhawks defense anchored by goaltender Petr Mrazek. Lets delve into this NHL odds analysis to witness what will be the possible outcome of this match.
The Blues offense ranks 12th in the NHL at 3.26 goals per game. Thomas and Buchnevich pace the attack with 20 and 13 points respectively. Their quickness and skill should challenge a Chicago defense allowing 3.56 goals per game. Mrazek holds a mediocre .904 save percentage, so St. Louis should be able to pepper him with shots.
On the other side, young phenom Connor Bedard leads a hungry Chicago offense. His blend of speed and shooting ability has already produced 10 goals this year. Bedard and the Blackhawks offensive attack matches up against Jordan Binnington and the St. Louis defense. Binnington has struggled to a 2.96 GAA this season, and the Blues allow 3.37 goals per contest. The Blackhawks should be able to generate plenty of chances.
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks 11/26/23 Game Info
| When: | Sunday, November 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM ET |
| Where: | United Center |
| TV: | NHL |
| Stream: | NHL.TV |
Goaltender Jordan Binnington vs. Goaltender Petr Mrazek
Binnington’s poor .906 save percentage raises concerns coming into this matchup. The Blues netminder has already allowed 38 goals in just 14 games played. He carries a 2.96 goals against average that ranks among the highest in the league so far this season. Jordan Binnington has yet to regain his 2019 form that propelled St. Louis to the Stanley Cup. He struggles with rebound control and can be visibly rattled when under duress. The Blackhawks will likely apply heavy pressure from the drop of the puck. If Binnington’s shaky confidence gets tested early, it could be another tough outing for the veteran goalie. He will need to be sharper against a Chicago group generating 32.8 shots per game. If Binnington struggles, the Blues defense may become overwhelmed.
Petr Mrazek holds the statistical edge over his counterpart in this contest. The Blackhawks goalie has posted a .904 save percentage along with a 3.24 GAA. While not elite numbers, they best Binnington’s current production. Mrazek also benefits from playing behind a defense that blocks lots of shots. The Czech native does display issues with consistency though. He can make acrobatic saves one minute, then let in soft goals the next. Mrazek also carries a losing 6-12 record this season. Perhaps more concerning are his career numbers against St. Louis. In 25 games versus the Blues, Mrazek owns a lackluster .891 save percentage. The veteran goaltender will need to stay focused for 60 minutes against a deep St. Louis offense on Sunday. Any significant lapses and the Blues scoring attack can quickly take advantage.
NHL Odds/Point Spread: St. Louis Blues -156, Total Odds: 6.5
The Blues enter this Central Division battle as moderate -156 favorites on the moneyline. This implies about a 61% probability for St. Louis to garner the road victory. The total is set at 6.5 goals, a reasonable over/under considering both offenses’ capabilities. Expect an up-tempo, back-and-forth contest.
St. Louis Blues Betting Trends
The Blues are 5-1 straight up over their last 6 games against Chicago, displaying recent domination in the rivalry. St. Louis is also 5-1 SU in their previous 6 clashes at the United Center. However, the Blues have struggled to cover on the road, going 4-9 SU away from home this season. The over cashed in 4 of St. Louis’ last 5 matchups against fellow Central clubs. Finally, the over hit in 4 of the Blues previous 6 Sunday contests.
Chicago Blackhawks Betting Trends
The Blackhawks enter Sunday’s tilt just 1-5 SU over their last 6 overall. Chicago is 2-11 straight up over their previous 13 home games. They are 1-4 SU in their last 5 home games against St. Louis. The over has hit in 5 of the Blackhawks’ last 7 games against the Western Conference. Also, 11 of Chicago’s last 16 November contests finished over the total.
St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks 11/26/23 Betting Picks
The Blues hold the edge against the Blackhawks in recent meetings. St. Louis also sports the statistical advantage on paper coming into this showdown. However, questions in net for the Blues and their poor road record this year are concerning. The Blackhawks catch them at the right time. Connor Bedard continuing his breakout campaign would not surprise. Expect the young Chicago forward to challenge Binnington and the St. Louis defense. According to expert NHL handicappers, take the home side’s moneyline for nice plus-money value Sunday afternoon.
Free Pick and Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks 4, St. Louis Blues 3